TY Harbor Brewery is a surprising oasis in the midst of Tokyo’s waterfront warehouse district. Not surprisingly, it is a spin-off business of the long-established, but forward-thinking, Terada Warehouse Company (寺田倉庫株式会社) which, in 1997, remodeled one of its facilities into this attractive complex that includes a restaurant, a small brewery and an art gallery-event space.
The brewery taproom itself, which also functions as a waiting bar when the restaurant is crowded, is an attractive space with a high ceiling, and a comfortable spot to sample the variety of beers on tap and sold under the Tennoz Ales name.
The brewery specializes in U.S. West Coast style microbrews, with the flagship brew being a rather hoppy Pale Ale, much like you’d have at a brewpub in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco or San Diego. Other standard beers are also rather orthodox; Wheat Ale, Amber Ale and Porter.
However, there is usually a seasonal beer, often flavored with fruit, spice, honey or some combination depending upon the whim of brewmaster Kazunaga Abe. Plus, from time to time, there is a lager brewed with organic ingredients, which is sent to other restaurants operated by the company.
As good as the beer is, it is often overshadowed by the very tempting food coming out of the restaurant kitchen. Even something as simple as a pizza is an entirely new experience, while the meat and seafood dishes are excellent in every way. Go for the beer, but stay for the food – that’s what usually happens here.
Executive Chef David Chiddo has created a superb menu of dishes with influences that include California, Italy, Southeast Asia and more. His magic touch with flavors extends to the highly acclaimed Cicada in Hiroo and, more recently, the sublime Beacon in Aoyama, restaurants he has created that are operated by TY’s parent company.
The adjoining Waterline lounge, more or less a barge converted into a stylish drinking spot with light food, also features Tennoz Ales. It is open from 5:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. (11:30 p.m. on Sundays). You can also order beer for home delivery from their Web site, but there is no beer for take-out from the restaurant.
TY Harbor Brewery Restaurant
2-1-3 Higashi Shinagawa
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Phone: (03) 5479-4555
Hours:
Open weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 5 to 10:30 p.m.
Open weekends and holidays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 5 to 9:30 p.m.
Web (English): www.tyharborbrewing.co.jp/eng/index.html
Web (Japanese): www.tyharborbrewing.co.jp/index.html
